End-sealed thermoplastic container body



END-SEALED THERMOPLASTIC CONTAINER BODY Filed Dec. 51, 1MB 2Sheets-Sheet 1 28? zaf 25 28d 2: 28d 28b INVENTOR.

/ ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 18, 1947 2,430,995 END-SEALED THERgggLASTICCONTAINER Wendel V. Boos, New York, N. Y. William Lawrence Roosadministrator of said Wendel V.

Itoo's, deceased Application December 31, 1942, Serial No. 470,813 4Claims. (Cl. 222-107) The present invention relates to thermoplasticcontainer bodies which are sealed at one end, and applicable to befilled at an open end which open end is subsequently suitably closed,the dispensing opening of container being effected upon breakage of theseal at the originally sealed end.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ampoule or othercontainer formed of suitable material capable of being hermeticallysealed and also of the nature of being severable by mere application ofsevering force.

Among the objectives of my invention is the provision of an ampoule orother container for embodying approved pharmaceutical and othermedications available for use ,under emergency and other conditions,such as for first-aid on the battlefield, first-aid administered by airwardens, domestic use, and in other circumstances where professionalmedical attention is not available, as well as for use in hospitals andby the medical profession in general.

Embodiments of my invention are also applicable for use as dispensingcontainers for tooth paste, shaving and other creams, lotions, and thelike,

Certain preferred embodiments of the invention include a doublecontainer, that is to say, an outer container embracing and usuallyprotecting' the inner container, the latter or both enclosing materialto be dispensed. The outer container may also enclose a pharmaceuticalor other medication applicable for complementary application with thematerial contained in the inner container. Such types of embodiment ofthe invention are particularly applicable for containing and dispensingmedications which require sterilization or like aseptic treatment torender the contents and the interiors of the containers and theclearance between the outer container and the inner container aseptic aswell as to kill contained spores or other septic matter.

Thermoplastics having the characteristics applicable to the requirementscalled for by the objectives of my present invention are preferable, inthat such thermoplastics usually possess the property of being readilysevered, and when severed do not introduce the factors of sharp edges orfractured material of the nature encountered when glass vials areemployed for such packaging.

My present invention is 'an improvement of that described and claimed inmy U. S. Patents No. 1,753,665, dated April 8, 1930, entitledCollapsible tube, and No. 2,188,191, dated January 23, 1940, entitledHermetically sealed automatic closure for collapsible tubes and thelike. In the latter of my stated patents, I have disclosed theemployment of cellulose acetate or other suitable cellulose compound asthe material of the therein described collapsible tube, and theformation of an automatically closing opening for dispens-' ing thecontents from stage to stage, and the hermetical sealing of suchself-closing dispensing opening in its original status.

One phase of my present invention resides in the method of continuouslyproducing thermoplastic am oules or other containers, providedoriginally ith a hermetically sealed opening later serving as thedispensing opening, from continuous tubular stock of the desiredthermoplastic or other suitable material. My present disclosure alsoincludes a preferred method of producing double or other multipleampoules or containers in the relationship of outer and One or moreinner containers, or serially related, and preferably produced in acontinuous manner by simultaneous treatment of mutually envelopingindefinite lengths of tubular stock.

Preferably, the inner ampoule or container is disposed substantiallyuniformly within the outer container or containers. In the production ofsuch embodiments of the invention, the indefinite lengths of inner andouter tubular stock may be eilected by extrusion through suitable dies,wherein the die head serves also to maintain substantially uniformclearance between the inner and outer lengths of tubular stock, whichare treated under heat and pressure to produce the hermetically sealedself-closing closures at the desired locations serving when severed asthe dispensing openings of the resulting individual multiple containers.

In the production of tubular ampoules or containers, single or double orother multiple, one end of the ampoule or container is open, affordingthe filling of the same pursuant to conventional practice withconventional or other approved fllling and usually weighing or measuringmachines. Pursuant to my process of treating indefinite lengths oftubular stock, the same are treated along the lengths of such stock atlocations approximately twice the length of the eventual individualampoule or container; the tubular stock between the treated locations iscut into two, thus providing an open end thereat for the respectiveampoules or containers.

'I'hermoplastics possessing the characteristics applicable as materialfor containers pursuant to my present invention include celluloseacetate,

saran, vinylidene chloride resins, lucite and such other thermoplasticsof such character that are immune with respect to. the contents packagedand capable of withstanding sterilization or other treatment forpackaged contents. By thermoplastics I include all materials in additionto the commonly termed thermoplastics which materials lend themselves tobe formed, 1. e., shaped by heat and pressure or like procedure from anoriginal tubular, i. e., hollow stock to attain the objectives of thevariant types of embodiments of my invention as set forth.

Further features and objects of the invention are more fully set forthin the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 is a side elevation typical of a multiple tubularcontainer, pursuant to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of an indefinite length of tubular stock fromwhich the inner and/or outer container is produced.

Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate in edge and top plan views a length of tubularstock such as is indicated in Fig. 2, treated to produce double lengthsof individual single tubular containers;

Fig. 5 represents in diagrammatic plan view a continuous method offorming indefinite lengths of inner and outer tubular stock, the innertubular stock being substantially uniformly positioned within the outertubular stock. Fig. 5 illustrates also a joint treatment of an inner andouter tubu- Stoc f Producing double tubular containers, in this instancethe treatment being similar to that for producing the single tubularcontainer indicated in Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of one type of single tubular containerhermetically sealed at its dispensing opening, the opposite end of thecontainer having a conventional semi-spherical configuration;

Fig. '7 is a side elevation of a single tubular container hermeticallysealed at its opposite ends.

Fig. 8 is an edge elevation of Fig. 'I;

Fig. 9 is a top plan view of indefinite lengths of inner and outertubular stock, the inner tubular stock being partially flattened atpredetermined locations to afford substantially uniform positioning ofan inner stock relative to the outer stock;

Fig. 10 is a detail cross-section view on line l0l8 of Fig. 9, on anenlarged scale.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic top plan view indicating a manner of treatingthe inner and outer lengths of tubular stock indicated in Figs. 9 and10. I

Fig. 12 is similar to that of Fig. 11, illustrating another method oftreatment of inner and outer tubular stock indicated in Figs. 9 and 10.

Fig. 13 is a top plan view of a double tubular container hermeticallysealed at its opposite ends by variant forms of sealing.

Fig. 14 is an elevational view of one of the heating and pressuretreating dies shown in Fig. 3, on a somewhat enlarged scale.

Fig. 15 is an elevation of a chain of two or more (two only being shown)ampoules or containers embodying my invention.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the outer container ofthermoplastic or other suitable material is designated 2| designates theinner ampoule or container which may also be of thermoplastic or othersuitable material. One end, viz., the end designated generally 22, mayserve as the dispensing end, and in this instance is provided with anoriginally hermetically sealed closure, which when severed, as describedhereinafter. is provided with a self-closing opening. As shown. suchhermetically sealed closure consists generally of an outermost sealing,oppositely related and mutually fused flattened areas 22a, provided witha marginal scoring 22b, which is partially cut into the material orotherwise formed to weaken the material at such scoring 22b, andoppositely related and mutually face-to-face contacting but unfusedflattened areas 220. Upon severing at the marginal scoring 22b, theflattened areas 220 mutually serve as the self-closing closure of thedispensing opening, similarly as set forth in my above referred toPatent #2,188,191. Such provision of flattened areas give rise to ageneral frusto-conical configuration of the material approaching thedispensing opening, two sides of which are substantially flat and taperconvergingly to the respective flattened face-toface contacting areas,220, the remaining two opposite faces being of general arcuateconfiguration.

The container illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown closed at its opposite end23, also in a hermetically sealed manner, by a form of crimpingdesignated 24, described more particularly hereinafter.

By crimping, I include corrugations, milling, knurling or the like,whereby fusion is afforded between the areas brought into face-to-faceengagement under heat and pressure. Such crimping or equivalentpossesses also the advantage that the so treated areas may be graspedwithout slipping of the fingers, in the circumstance that the areas arewet, when it is desired to sever or break the thus fused sealed closure,for freeing the dispensing opening of the ampoule or container.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 indicate diagrammatically a preferred method ofproducing ampoules or containers, embodying the features of my presentinvention. In this instance the container is shown of single tubularform.

The material 25, serving as the stock, indicated in Fig. 2 isillustrated of substantially circular tubular formation and representsan indefinite length of such stock. At desired spacings indicatedbetween the locations 28 and 21 in Fig. 3, such stock 25 is treated toprovide, preferably, the above referred to originally hermeticallysealed closure. In the instance of using thermoplastic stock, suchtreatment is accomplished under heat and pressure, for which purpose,the sets of complementary, heated pressure twin dies 28, 28, typifysuitable instrumentalities for effecting such treatment. Such dies 28,28 are suitably mounted and reciprocated, as indicated by the applieddouble arrows, in proper timed relation to the intermittent travel(indicated by the arrow 25a) of the thermoplastic stock, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art. Such dies 28, 28 may be heatedelectrically under thermostat control.

Fig. 14 illustrates one of such heating and pressure treating twin dies28, which essentially includes the flat faces 28a, 28a, which are heatedto a temperature which upon pressure engagement with the thermoplasticstock flattens the same and effects fusion and consequent sealing of theopposing thus flattened areas corresponding to the above referred tofused flattened areas 22a, see Fig. 1; between the faces 28a, 28a, ofthe dies is a scoring rule 28b, serving to cut-score the thermoplasticmaterial at the margin between V the fused flattened areas. The faces28c, 280 of r perature less than fusing temperature of thethermoplastic, for effecting flattening but not fusion of theface-to-face en aging areas, corresponding to the above referred tofaoe-to-face engaging areas 22c, 22c, see Fig. 1, serving mutually as aself-closing closure for the dispensing opening. Between each die face29c and its associated die face 29a, heat insulation indicated at 29d isinterposed to preserve the controlled differential temperatures; also, Iprovide the cut-scoring rule 29c between each die face 29a and 29c foreffecting the cut-scoring 22b, see Fig. 1, for weakening thethermoplastic at the margin, see 221), Fig. 1, between the sealed area22a, 22a, and the unsealed face-to-face engaging area 220, 22c, when itis desired to unseal the container for dispensing.

Each die 29 also comprises the upwardly receding flat forming faces 29],29!, which are heated to low temperature to suitably form the outwardlyconverging dispensing portion of the ampoule or container approachingthe stated dispensing opening area 22c.

Desirably, the spacing between the series of locations 29 and 21 alongthe length of stock 29 is twice the length of an individual container,whereby upon cutting the intermediate stock in half, indicated by thedot-and-dash line 29-29, there is derived a two-container length ofstock, having its opposite ends open. This two-container length of stockis cut on the scored line 99-99, see Fig. 4, resulting in two individualcontainers, each having a full opening at one end and a hermeticallysealed closure at its opposite end.

Fig. 5 indicates diagrammatically a manner of producing double ampoulesor containers following the procedure set forth hereinabove with respectto the two container procedure of producing' single ampoules orcontainers in seriatim asindicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. 3| in Fig. 5indicates an extrusion die through which is extruded under pressure thethermoplastic composition in fluid status from which the stock isformed. The extruded outer stock is indicated 32, and the ex- .trudedinner stock is indicated 93. The wallssuitably supported, not shown-ofthe extruding apertures of the die 9i serve in this instance tosubstantially uniformly position the formed inner tubular stock 99within the outer tubular stock 32. A heat and pressure stage of thethermoplastic stock is indicated at 29 corresponding to the stage 29,and similarly at, stage 21, of Figs. 3 and 4 and by the employment ofcomplementary sets of heated'pressure twin dies, similar to the abovedescribed dies 29, 29, the outer and inner stock are simultaneouslytreated to produce the desired double hermetically sealed closuresthereat. The resulting treated stock is then cut in half on a linecorresponding to the dot-and-dash line 29-29 of Figs. 3 and 4, and alsocut mid-way on a line corresponding to the line 99-99 of the doublehermetically sealed closures to produce double containers each having adouble open end and a double hermetically sealed end, generallycorresponding to the structure of Fig. 1.

The open end of the inner ampoule or container serves as the fillingopening for charging therethrough the contents of the inner ampoule orcontainer; in some instances it may be desired to charge the outerampoule or container, which may be effected throu h its annular opening.

Fig. 6 illustrates a single ampoule or container 95 having one end 39 ofconventional semispherical formation. Its opposite end 91 ishermetically sealed in this instance by a series of substantiallyparallel longitudinally extending flattened areas by crimping, indicatedat 99, under heat and pressure treatment. which may be carried out asindicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. Assuming the stock to be of substantiallycircular tubular formation, such heat and pressure treatment resultsin-configurating the portion immediately approaching its sealed end ofoppositely positioned substantially flat areas extending longitudinallyand converging outwardly toward the hermetically sealed closure andoppositely positioned configurations which are of general arcuateformations.

The ampoule or container shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is also of the singletype, and has one end, i. e. its end 91, similar to that of Fig. 6,whereby it is hermetically sealed by heat and pressure crimping 99. Theampoule or container shown in Figs. '7 and 8 is also provided at its end91 with oppositely related face-to-faee engaging, but not fused, areas220, 220, corresponding to the areas 220, 22c, of the structure of Fig.1, serving mutually as a self-closing closure, similarly as in my abovereferred Patent #2,188,191.

Such crimping 99, see Figs. 6, 7 and 8, functions to weaken the materialof the container at the indicated line 99-39, to eflect severing thereatto open the original hermetical seal afforded by the crimping 99.

The ampoule or container shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is illustrated as closedat its opposite end by crimping 99a, which may be of the severing type99 of simple crimping, employed in the structure of Fig. 6, to aflorddispensing of contents at either end.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate another procedure employing inner and outerstock for the production of containers of the double type fromindefinite lengths of such stock. Pursuant to this procedure, the innerstock 40 is treated prior to its insertion within the outer stock II toprovide partially flattened zones indicated at 42 which serve as meansfor guiding and substantially uniformly positioning the inner stock 40within the outer stock ll. Desirably, such partially flattened zones 42are spaced along the indefinite length of the inner stock 49corresponding to the spacing of double lengths of the desired ampoule orcontainers, similarly as in the procedure of Figs. 3 and 4.

Fig. 11 illustrates, similar to Fig. 4, the heat and pressuresimultaneous treatment of the inner and outer stock of Figs. 9 and 10,to provide at the predetermined locations of treatment her- .meticallysealed closures thereat, and as stated indicated in Fig. 11, the same isshown of the type 22, Figs. 1 and 5.

Fig. 12 illustrates the procedure of producing double ampoules orcontainers, generally similar to that of Fig. 11, and desirablyemploying the inner and outer stock shown in Figs. 9 and 10; Fig. 12shows in particular the formationof double crimpings 99, 39,corresponding to the individual crimping 99, 39, of the single typeampoule or container shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8.

The stock after the treatment indicated in Figs. 11 and 12, is cut atthe respective lines of severing, 29-29 and 99-99, to produce individualdouble ampoules or containers, each having an open and charging end andan opposite hermetically crimped sealed end. i

Fig. 13 shows a double ampoule or container hermetically sealed at oneend pursuant to the type 22, hereinabove described with respect to Fig.1, and at its opposite end sealed of the crimped type 38, havingself-closing flattened face-to-face engaging, non-fused areas 22c, 22c,hereinabove described with respect to Figs. 7 and 8 thus afi'ording adispensing opening at either end.

In like manner, each ampoule or container may be formed of two or moreinner container elements, and provided with single or two hermeticallysealed dispensing openings.

Fig. 15 illustrates a series of thermoplastic ampoules or containers 45,45, 45, etc., which may be treated at the locations 46, 46, etc., underpressure and heat, say, as indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 tor a singletype or as indicated in Fig. 5 or in Figs. 9, and 11 or 12 for a doubleor other multiple type. The individual ampoules or containers 45, 45,45, etc., may be charged with the desired contents as may be preferred;one efl'ective manner of charging may be by the means of a hyperdermicneedle employed to pierce a wall of an ampoule or container and toinject a measured quantity of the charged material and upon withdrawalof such injecting instrument the pierced opening may be sealed as by'the use of acetone or the like for thermoplastics of the nature ofcellulose acetate or the like, or with collodion solution, etc.,advantageously of the character of withstanding sterilizing or otheraseptic treatment, and also of a nature not to contaminate the containedmaterial or otherwise defeat the medicinal or other beneficial purposesof the contained material. Any other suitable method of charging suchseries of ampoules may be employed. Any individual ampoule or containermay be detached from its companion by merely breaking or otherwisesevering its sealed closed end and dispensing its contents in whole orin part by compressing its sides.

If desired, the heat and pressure treatment of the tubular stock may becarried out by continuous longitudinal movement of the stock, the heatand pressure dies, such as the sets of dies 28, 28, see Figs. 3 and 14,being given a reciprocal transverse movement coincidental with that ofthe tubular stock at the stage of engagement therewith by the dies, orthe dies may be of the rotary type and rotated at an efi'ectiveperipheral speed equal to longitudinal rate of travel of the treatedstock.

The dies are desirably heated electrically and controlledthermostatically. Advantageously, the die faces of the higher, 1. e.,fusing temperature are heated by its source of heat independently of theheating of the die faces of lower temperature.

For use in first aid, say, for containing sulfanilamide or sulfathiosalor sulfadiazine or the like, in an inner ampoule or container of adouble or other multiple type of ampoule or container formed, say, ofcellulose acetate as the container stock, it is desirable and in manyinstances necessary to subject the packaged medication to sterilizingtemperature of the range, say, from 105 C. and upwards, as for exampleto kill spores or otherwise render the contents and the interior of thecontainer sterile; accordingly, the container stock is selected of suchcharacter as to maintain its hermetic seal intact, and also desirably togenerally preserve its configuration,

When put to use, assuming the ampoule or container, single or double orother multiple, to have a hermetic seal of the self-closing type 22,referred to with respect to Figs. 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11 and 13, theoutermost fused and hermetically sealing areas are severed, either byany suitable severing tool or by mere forceful bending and breaking;this is readily accomplished by resort to the provided-for partially cutand weakened line of scoring. Such severing is performed wholly freefrom danger of cutting or causing abrasion of the fingers or the hand ofthe user, and is far superior to present practice of employing glass asthe material of the ampoule or container. Present day first-aid kits areequipped with glass containers, and in some cases covered with silk orother fabric for minimizing the danger of broken glass, a desirableobjective but not certain in attainment.

Medications have heretofore been packaged in glass containers, ampoulesor in paper envelopes, in turn loosely enclosed in one or more outerenvelopes or the like, usually Cellophane or like material. However, insuch form of packaging it is necessary when dispensing the contents toseparately break or tear the several envelopes individually.

As appears from the present disclosure, in the several embodiments of myvarious ampoules or containers, but one operation of tearing or othersevering is required to break the seal and dispense the contents, byreason of the line" of tear or other severing of the respective ampoulesor contaniers being coincidental and the inner ampoule or container orampoules or containers being fixedly related to the outer ampoule orcontainer. Upon breaking of the seal, the contents are dispensed by merepressure upon the sides of the ampoule or container, similar to themanner of dispensing from a conventional collapsible metal tube.

Single or double ampoules or containers of thermoplastic in accordancewith my present invention may be enclosed in an outer envelope ofCellophane. To unseal such enclosed single or double ampoule orcontainer, the outer Cellophane is grasped about the location Of thehermetic sealed end, and subjected to bending force,

to sever the thermoplastic at its provided-for line of weakening, whichact of severing efiects also a tear in the outer Cellophane therebyenabling the portion of the Cellophane extending beyond the dispensingopening of the ampoule or container to be readily removed while supportof the ampoule or container is afiorded by the remainder of theCellophane envelope within which the ampoule is still enclosed, tothereby preserve sterility in the operation.

The volume or capacity and the size and configuration of thetubulanampoule or container, single or multiple, is selected inaccordance with particular requirements.

The self-closing closure for ampoules or containers pursuant to mypresent invention, typified by the above described closure 22 havingoppositely related and mutually engaging fiat areas, indicated in Figs.1, 4, 5, is particularly advantageous for multiple shot use, whereas theabove described simple crimped type of closure is of advantage for oneshot application.

In the claims I have employed. the term "container or containers" andinclude by such term ampoule or ampoules as well as other forms ofcontainr rs.

Whereas I have described my invention by refe'rence to specific formsthere f, it will be under- 9 stood that many changes and modificationsmay be made provided they do not depart from the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture, a container comprising a hollow bodyportion having a hollow outwardly converging dispensing portion ofthermoplastic material; oppositely related and mutually face-to-facenormally contacting but unfused flattened areas of thermoplasticmaterial disposed immediately adjacent the outward end of saiddispensing portion; and mutually fused areas of thermoplastic materialdisposed outwardly of said oppositely related and mutually face-to-facenormally contacting but unfused flattened areas, said mutually fusedareas serving to seal the outward end of said dispensing portion priorto bein opened, the area of the thermoplastic material between saidmutually face-to-face normally contacting but unfused flattened areasand said mutually fused areas being weakened, whereby the container isrendered openable upon breakage of the thermoplastic material at saidweakened area, the thermoplastic material being seamless throughout thearticle.

2. An article of manufacture as defined by claim l in which saidweakened area is provided with scoring to facilitate breakage thereat.

3. An article of manufacture, an assembly of two hollow containerbodies, each having a hollow outwardly converging dispensing portion ofthermoplastic material; oppositely related and mutually face-to-facenormally contacting but unfused flattened areas of thermoplasticmaterial disposed immediately adjacent the outward end of saiddispensing portion; and mutually fused areas of thermoplastic materialdisposed outwardly of said oppositely related and mutually face-to-facenormally contacting but unfused flattened areas, said mutually fusedareas serving to seal the outward end of said dispensing portion of thecontainer prior to being opened, the area of the thermoplastic materialbetween said mutually face-to face normally contacting but unfusedflattened areas and said mutually fused areas being weakened, wherebythe container is rendered openable upon breakage of the thermoplasticmaterial at said weakened area, said thermopllastic material beingseamless throughout the artic e.

4. An article of manufacture as defined by claim 3 in which one hollowcontainer body is disposed within the other hollow container body, andsaid mutually face-to-face normally contacting but unfused flattenedareas of the respective container bodies are mutually superposedrelative to one another and said mutually fused areas of the respectivecontainer bodies are mutually superposed relative to one another.

WENDEL V. ROOS.

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